Coleus plant named `Radiance`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Coleus plant named `Radiance`, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; multi-colored leaves with green, yellow-green to white, red-purple and deep maroon areas of varying size and shape depending on light levels; lack of flower development; excellent garden performance and tolerance to high temperatures and full sun conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Coleusplant, botanically known as Coleus×hybridus, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name `Radiance`. The new Coleus is marketed under thetrade name Solar Radiance.

The new Coleus was discovered by the Inventor in Gainesville, Fla. as anaturally-occurring lateral branch mutation of a plant of thenonpatented Coleus×hybridus cultivar `Solar Sunrise` in 1996.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal and stem cuttingstaken at Gainesville, Fla., has shown that the unique features of thisnew Coleus are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar `Radiance` have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,daylength, and fertility level without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Radiance`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Radiance` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.

2. Multi-colored leaves with green, yellow-green to white, red-purpleand deep maroon areas of varying size and shape depending on lightlevels.

3. Lack of flower development.

4. Excellent garden performance; tolerant to high temperatures and fullsun conditions.

5. Less susceptible to bacterial pathogens common to Coleus.

Plants of the cultivar `Radiance` can be compared to plants of theparent cultivar, the nonpatented Coleus×hybridus cultivar `SolarSunrise`. Leaves of plants of the new Coleus are green, yellow-green towhite, red-purple and deep maroon whereas leaves of plants of the parentcultivar are primarily green and maroon. In addition, in side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Gainesville, Fla., plants of the new Coleuswere more compact and had smaller leaves than plants of the parentcultivar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographcomprises a top perspective view of a typical plant of the new Coleusgrown in a one-liter container under outdoor cultivation. Foliage colorsin the photograph may appear lighter than the actual colors due to lightreflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for thedescription were grown in one-liter containers under outdoor productionconditions during the summer and autumn in Gainesville, Fla., andKeller, Tex.

Botanical classification: Coleus×hybridus cultivar `Radiance`.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Coleus×hybriduscultivar `Solar Sunrise`, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal and stem cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--Summer: About 4 days at temperatures of about29° C. Winter: About 4 days at temperatures of about 21° C.

Time to develop roots.--Summer: About 21 days at temperatures of about35° C. Winter: About 28 days at temperatures of about 24° C.

Rooting habit.--Numerous and fine.

Plant description:

Type.--Annual succulent herb in temperate regions; may be perennial insubtropical and tropical regions. Typically grown as container or gardenplants.

Crop time.--From cuttings, about 10 weeks are required to produce afully-grown finished plant in a one-liter container.

Form.--Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading. Appropriate forone-liter containers.

Branching habit.--Although freely branching, pinching (removal ofapices) will enhance branching; lateral branches may potentially form atevery node.

Plant height (from soil level to top of plant plane.--About 52 cm.

Area of spread.--About 41 cm.

Vigor.--Vigorous, rapid.

Branches.--Diameter: About 6.5 mm. Internode length: About 4.2 cm.Shape: Square in cross-section. Strength: Strong. Texture: Very minutehairs. Color: Very dark maroon, darker than 187A.

Foliage description.--Leaves simple, generally symmetrical, opposite andlong persisting. Length: About 9.7 cm. Width: About 7.4 cm. Aspect:Mostly horizontal. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin:Crenate. Texture: Pubescent on both surfaces, veins prominent on lowersurface. Color: Multi-colored, base of leaf, typically green to yellowgreen to white; center of leaf to apex, deep maroon, or red-purple;margin, green. Actual patterns and relative colored areas depend onlight level. With increasing light level, red colored areas are moredominant. Various spots and splashes of the different colors appearrandomly throughout the leaf predominantly along lateral veins. Youngfoliage, upper surface: Center towards base, green, 144A; center towardsapex, deep maroon, 187A; margin, green, 144A; various spots and splashesof green and deep maroon throughout the leaf; venation, 187A. Youngfoliage, lower surface: Green, close to 146C; venation, 187A. Maturefoliage, upper surface: Center towards base, green, 144A, to yellowgreen, 154A, to white, 155A; center towards apex, deep maroon, 187A;center and radiating along veins, red-purple, 61A; margin, green, 144A;various spots and splashes of green and deep maroon throughout the leaf;venation, 187A. Mature foliage, lower surface: Green, close to 146C;random yellow green, 154A, white, 155A, and/or deep maroon, 187A, spots;venation, deep maroon, 187A, towards base and light whitish greentowards apex. Petiole: Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.Color: Close to 187A.

Flower description: Flowers have not been observed to date on plants ofthe new Coleus.

Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Coleus have exhibited goodtolerance to high temperatures and full sun conditions; excellent gardenperformance.

Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, plants of the newColeus are less susceptible to bacterial diseases common to Coleus.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Coleus plant named`Radiance`, as illustrated and described.